For a New England skier, the Ikon vs. Epic question comes down to a short list of mountains. Epic owns Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow outright and covers four New Hampshire hills. Ikon gives you unlimited days at Stratton and Sugarbush, plus a week each at Killington, Loon, Sunday River and Sugarloaf. If you are still deciding, Epic’s prices go up after November 15, so the clock is running.

The New England mountains on each pass for 2026–27

Epic Pass

Vail Resorts lists eight Northeast resorts on Epic: Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow in Vermont, Attitash, Wildcat, Mount Sunapee and Crotched in New Hampshire, and Hunter in New York’s Catskills. The full Epic Pass gives unrestricted access to all of them. Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow are targeting a Saturday, November 21 opening, according to Vail Resorts, and Stowe is celebrating its 90th season this winter.

Ikon Pass

Pulled from Ikon’s own 2026–27 product data on ikonpass.com, the full Ikon Pass covers these New England mountains:

• Unlimited: Stratton (VT) and Sugarbush (VT)
• 7 days each, no blackouts: Killington-Pico (VT), Loon Mountain (NH), Sunday River (ME) and Sugarloaf (ME)

Just over the border, Ikon also includes Tremblant unlimited and Le Massif de Charlevoix for 7 days. Tremblant is the big draw for a Montreal-weekend kind of skier.

Ikon Base Pass

The cheaper Base Pass keeps Stratton and Sugarbush unlimited, but with holiday restrictions. Killington, Loon, Sunday River and Sugarloaf drop to 5 days each, also with holiday restrictions. Ikon lists the Base blackout dates as December 26 to 30, 2026; January 16 to 17, 2027; and February 13 to 14, 2027. That covers the Christmas week, MLK weekend and Presidents’ Day weekend. Tremblant stays unlimited on the Base Pass.

What the passes cost

These are adult prices as published by each company. Both offer discounts for young adults, children, the military and other groups.

• Ikon Pass: $1,529 (listed adult price on Ikon’s site in early November)
• Ikon Base Pass: $1,099
• Ikon Session Pass: $369 for 2 days, $499 for 3, $599 for 4
• Epic Pass: launched at $1,089 for adults in March. Vail cut young adult and teen pricing (ages 13 to 30) by 20%, so the Epic Pass started at $869 for that group
• Epic Local Pass: $869 in Vail’s October announcement, with unlimited access to 29 resorts, including Stowe (peak dates excluded), Okemo and Mount Snow
• Northeast Value Pass: $704, covering Stowe, Hunter, Mount Snow and Okemo, with some restrictions

The deadline that matters: Vail says Epic prices increase after November 15, 2026. Ikon’s last scheduled price increase this fall has already passed, so the price you see now is the one to compare. Check epicpass.com and ikonpass.com for the current figures before you buy.

Who each pass suits

Choose Epic if Stowe is your mountain

If you keep returning to Stowe, Epic is the obvious answer. It is the only way to ski Stowe on a season pass, and with Okemo and Mount Snow added you have three very different Vermont mountains. Spruce Peak is the place to stay at the base of Stowe. I explained why in Stowe’s snow moment and why Spruce Peak wins, and Spruce Peak is easy to book. For a taste of what you’ll eat there, see my conversation with Spruce Peak’s executive chef.

For families who only ski in Vermont, the Northeast Value Pass or Epic Local is often enough. Just check the Stowe restrictions against the holiday weekends you actually ski.

Choose Ikon if you want variety (and Tremblant)

Ikon suits the skier who likes to move around. You get unlimited Stratton and Sugarbush, a week each at Killington and Sunday River, and Sugarloaf for a proper Maine trip. Throw in Tremblant, which makes a Canadian ski weekend part of the season pass. My guide to planning a Mont-Tremblant ski trip covers where to stay; Le Westin Tremblant is right in the pedestrian village. At Killington, the Killington Grand Resort Hotel is at the base of the mountain. I have also written about skiing Sugarbush.

Ikon is also the stronger pass if you fly west. My roundup of the best places to ski with the Ikon Pass in the USA shows how far it reaches.

Consider skipping both

If you ski four or five days a year, a Session Pass or Epic Day Pass is often the smarter buy. Vail says Epic Day Passes start as low as $79 a day for adults at its Vermont and New York resorts.

A note on the drive from Boston

Southern Vermont is the easy weekend. Vail describes Mount Snow as Vermont’s closest destination ski resort to Boston and New York City, and Stratton and Okemo are in the same corner of the state. Stowe and Sugarbush sit farther north, and Sunday River and Sugarloaf mean a longer drive into Maine. Leave Friday after lunch and you will beat most of the Route 2 and I-93 traffic.

Whichever pass you buy, pack for the lodge as well as the lift. My après-ski style guide has what to wear off the slopes.

Ikon vs. Epic at a glance

• Epic only: Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Attitash, Wildcat, Mount Sunapee, Crotched, Hunter
• Ikon only: Stratton, Sugarbush, Killington-Pico, Loon, Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Tremblant
• Epic price increase: after November 15, 2026
• Vermont Epic resorts target opening: November 21, 2026
• Ikon Base blackouts: Dec 26–30, Jan 16–17, Feb 13–14

FAQ

Is Stowe on the Ikon Pass?

No. Stowe is owned by Vail Resorts and is on the Epic Pass. Ikon’s Vermont mountains are Stratton, Sugarbush and Killington-Pico.

Is Killington on Epic or Ikon?

Killington-Pico is on Ikon: 7 days on the full Ikon Pass and 5 days with holiday restrictions on the Ikon Base Pass.

Which pass is better for New Hampshire?

Epic has more New Hampshire mountains (Attitash, Wildcat, Mount Sunapee and Crotched). Ikon has Loon, the bigger single resort.

When do Epic Pass prices go up?

Vail Resorts says Epic Pass prices increase after November 15, 2026.